Polar Bear Plunge 2012: Let The Plunging Begin

Let the plunging begin for some real true to life polar bear plungers.

Dozens of Super Plungers started going into the Chesapeake Bay at 10:00 am on Friday morning at Sandy Point State Park.

As part of the 16th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, the Super Plungers will go into the water at the top of each hour for 24 hours as they raise thousands of dollars for Special Olympics Maryland.

This is the 9th year that Super Plungers have braved the waters of the Bay for 24 hourly trips into the frigid waters.

Many of the Super Plungers are Special Olympics athletes and friends and family members of those very special athletes.

Also on Friday, hundreds of Maryland high school students took the plunge at Sandy Point Park.  Each student who went into the Bay at noon on Friday raised money for Special Olympics Maryland.

Then on Saturday, thousands of plunge participants will pack Sand Point State Park so they can take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

At around 10:00 am, a large tent for the weekend event was blown down as a storm system moved across Sandy Point State Park.  The tent was not being used for Friday's plunging events and nobody was injured.

The Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge began in 1997 with 350 Plungers raising $75,000 in order to support and raise awareness for the thousands of athletes who train and compete throughout the year in Special Olympics Maryland’s sports programs. Since that time, more than 55,000 brave souls have raised a cumulative total of $16 million for SOMD by charging into the Chesapeake Bay --making the MSP Plunge the largest special event in Maryland.

In 2010, the event set yet another record, raising an incredible $3.5 million thanks to the efforts of 12,000 Plungers – including an enthusiastic group of school teams who participated in the first-ever Frigid Friday event.

The winter event has become a favorite of many local celebrities including Ravens players, media personalities, and elected officials; and is also an annual tradition among many group of friends, co-workers and even families.

PlungeFest Schedule For Saturday, January 28:

10:13 AM Pee-Wee Contest

10:30 AM Bishop's Garden - Main Stage

11:00 AM Pee-Wee/Family Plunge

11:30 AM Plunge 1 - Costume Contest

Hot Tub Limo - Rams Head Ice Lodge

12:00 PM Plunge Zone Closes to Spectators

12:15 PM Maryland Lottery Game - Main Stage

12:30 PM Official Welcome - Main Stage

1:00 PM Plunge One!

1:30 PM Headline Act: FUEL

1:45 PM Plunge 2 - Costume Contest

Plunge Zone Clossed to Spectators

2:15 PM Plunge 2 Constume Contest Ends

2:45 PM Pre-Plunge Announcements

3:00 PM Plunge Two!

3:00 PM The Rovers - Rams Head Ie Lodge

5:00 PM PlungeFest Ends

Transportation/Parking Information

General parking at Sandy Point State Park will no longer be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, all available parking spaces will be distributed via random lottery draw and as an incentive prize. Please review Parking Options section below for more information.

Parking/Transportation Options

A free Polar Express Shuttle System will be available and we encourage all Plungers and spectators to use this fast, efficient mode of transportation to and from the Park. We'll even be giving away great prizes to shuttle riders all day long! Beginning at 8 a.m., Polar Express shuttles will be transporting passengers to Sandy Point State Park from:

Navy-Marine Corps Stadium - Annapolis

Shuttle service to and from Sandy Point State Park will begin promptly at 7:30 AM and continue until 5 PM. Shuttle buses will run a continuous loop to and from the park in order to prevent delays.

In order to guarantee your arrival at Sandy Point State Park in time for the 1 pm or 3pm Plunge, we strongly recommend that you board the shuttle bus NO later than 90 minutes before the desired plunge.

The Naval Academy Stadium and Anne Arundel Community College are approximately 5 miles from Sandy Point State Park and over 150 shuttle buses will provide a quick, hassle-free ride to and from the event

Anne Arundel Community College - Arnold

Kent Island High School - Stevensville

Shuttle service will load and unload from the bus lane/traffic circle at the High School.

In order to arrive in time for the 1 pm or 3pm plunge please plan to load the bus no later than 90 minutes before the plunge.

Buses will run a loop from the school lot, so pick-ups will occur approximately every 30 minutes beginning at 8:00 am.

When departing, please be sure to look for a bus marked EASTERN SHORE - all other buses will travel West to the Naval Academy Stadium and Anne Arundel Community College.